Binh Minh Communal House (Co Bi Royal Residence)

The Co Bi Royal Residence relic is located in Binh Minh residential group, Trau Quy Town (Gia Lam - Hanoi), about 14 km east of central Hanoi. This land formerly belonged to Thuan An Prefecture, Kinh Bac Circuit; in the Nguyen period it belonged to Co Bi Commune, Dang Xa Canton, Gia Lam District, Bac Ninh Province. After 1945, the Co Bi Royal Residence belonged to Quang Trung Commune, Gia Lam District, Bac Ninh Province.

The Co Bi Royal Residence relic is located in Binh Minh residential group, Trau Quy Town (Gia Lam - Hanoi), about 14 km east of central Hanoi. This land formerly belonged to Thuan An Prefecture, Kinh Bac Circuit; in the Nguyen period it belonged to Co Bi Commune, Dang Xa Canton, Gia Lam District, Bac Ninh Province. After 1945, the Co Bi Royal Residence belonged to Quang Trung Commune, Gia Lam District, Bac Ninh Province.

From 1961 it was renamed Quang Trung I Commune to distinguish it from Quang Trung II Commune in Tu Son District, which was transferred here (now Yen Thuong Commune, Gia Lam). In 1965, this commune was renamed Trau Quy, and from April 1, 2005, Trau Quy Commune was changed into Trau Quy Town, Gia Lam District, suburban Hanoi.

Tracing history back, Co Bi is an ancient land with many historical imprints. Old histories and folk legends say that in 40 AD, this was the place where the Trung Sisters' insurgent army gathered and practiced martial arts before attacking Luy Lau, the capital of the Han feudal colonial administration. Today, traces remain at the temple dedicated to General Do Ho, a talented general of the Trung Sisters.

By the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties, Co Bi was already a famous scenic place east of the Thang Long Imperial City. Historical records all confirm that ancient Co Bi belonged to the Kinh Bac region, a land of long-standing culture with picturesque scenery. In the early 18th century, this area became even more famous because of its close connection with the Trinh lords, especially Lord Nhan Vuong Trinh Cuong.

According to Kham Dinh Viet Su Thong Giam Cuong Muc: In November (1727), Trinh Cuong arbitrarily built a new residence in Co Bi. Co Bi was a famous place in the Kinh Bac region, adjacent to Nhu Kinh Commune, and Nhu Kinh was the homeland of Truong Thai Phi, Trinh Cuong's birth mother, so Cuong often made inspection tours to that commune. Seduced by feng shui theory, Cuong wanted to move his residence to this land, and many of his courtiers flattered and echoed him. He then ordered the construction of a new residence; the work was completed in one month and was named Kim Thanh Palace.

Thus, in 1727, because Co Bi was a scenic spot and was near his mother's homeland, Trinh Cuong wanted to move his residence to this place. However, following the records of written history, it was perhaps also because he no longer wanted to place the Lord's Palace in Thang Long together with the Le king, and wanted to turn Co Bi into his center of power as the person governing the country. At that time, Co Bi was regarded as capital with the name Kim Thanh (the golden citadel).

Next, in the At Hoi year (1755), Trinh Doanh again ordered the construction of a palace and temple at Co Bi, also intending to move the capital to this place.

However, during its existence, along with two times construction Co Bi was also destroyed twice: once in July 1729 because “the river rose greatly, the Cu Linh dike broke, and the water swept everything away, causing collapse,” and once because Trinh Cuong's son Trinh Giang, “taking advantage of Cuong's death, succeeded to the throne” and ordered “the suspension of palace construction.”

According to folk legend, until the mid-18th century, the Co Bi Royal Residence was a system of ramparts and magnificent, imposing palaces. On Co Bi Hill stood the Trinh lords' main headquarters, a large wooden palace; a wide system of citadel roads led up to the palace, with large animals made of blue stone placed on both sides, sitting in attendance in balanced poses. Around Co Bi was a system of offices of officials accompanying the Trinh lord's palace. Inside the Co Bi citadel were many ancient trees with lush branches and leaves, making Co Bi an exceptionally beautiful architectural complex.

However, during the resistance war against the French, the Co Bi Royal Residence was severely devastated; the main palace and surrounding headquarters were burned down. Today only the old foundations remain, along with two rows of large elephant, lion, and stone tiger statues, which are distinctive relics of 18th-century sculpture.

The Co Bi Royal Residence relic was ranked by the Hanoi People's Committee as an artistic and historical relic in 2007.